Mar 12, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks team congratulate San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) on a shut out game against the Nashville Predators at SAP Center at San Jose. Sharks won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
The San Jose Sharks continue to hang on the fringe of the playoff race. Following their 3-1, closer than it should have been, victory over the Arizona Coyotes last night, the Sharks will be looking to defeat the Coyotes on consecutive nights.
A win would give San Jose their first three-game winning streak since the end of January and move them to 89 points with just three games remaining. Somehow, the Sharks still find themselves in playoff contention despite their terrible month of February.
Meanwhile, Arizona is just trying to play out the season. Ideally, the Coyotes would like to add four more losses to their season total and take their chances in the upcoming draft lottery.
Players to Watch
San Jose: Matt Nieto. Nieto netted his ninth goal of the season last night which gave the Sharks some breathing room once again. Nieto’s scoring has picked up of late as he’s settled in nicely on a line with Chris Tierney and Tommy Wingels. Nieto has two goals and one assist in his past five games and beginning to give San Jose the production they thought they would see all season long.
Arizona: Mark Arcobello. Arcobello has had a whirlwind of a year as the Coyotes are his fourth NHL team. He has taken advantage of his opportunity in Arizona as Arcobello has eight goals and six assists in 23 games with the Coyotes. He’s recorded two goals against San Jose this season, including Arizona’s lone tally last night after a deflection off of Brent Burns’ stick.
Quick Take
The Sharks dominated the Coyotes for long stretches of the game last night and will look for that to continue in the Valley of the Sun. San Jose outshot Arizona 16-3 in the first period and 37-21 for the game.
If San Jose can come out with a similar type of effort, they should be just fine against an Arizona team that can’t generate much offense. The Sharks will want to continue their recent run of play which has seen them claim nine out of their last 10 points. A win against the awful Coyotes will continue to apply a little pressure on the Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets.
It sure would be nice if those two teams could falter just a bit to make things really interesting heading into the final week of the season.
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